Pulling tool



Jan. 9, 1951 R. R. LAWRENCE PULLING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1946 II A Jan; 9, 1951 R. R.,LAWRENCE PULLING TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 23, 1946 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,537,413 PULLING rooL Richard R. Lawrence, Liberty, Tex.

Application November 23, 1946, Serial No. 711,897

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a pulling tool.

The tool herein described has been designed for the same general purpose as that of the tool disclosed in United States Patent Number 2,377,249 issued to m by the United States Patent Omce on May 29, 1945 but embodies certain improvements over the construction therein shown.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pulling tool of the character described specially d. signed for pulling stuck pipe or other stuck objects from a well and is of such construction that upon a pull being taken on the stuck object the tool may be released from the surrounding casing, while remaining engaged with the stuck object, and thereafter re-engaged with the casing and another pull taken to the end that the stuck object may gradually be released in successive stages by taking successive pulls thereon.

A further object of the present invention is V to provide a tool of the character described emin successive stages by imparting pulls thereto.

successively.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pulling tool of the character described that may be readily removed from the stuck object and withdrawn from the well in case the stuck object cannot be removed.

The invention also includes novel means for forcing liquid under pressure downwardly through the tool and through the stuck object to assist in releasing the object.

- Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein Figures 1 and 2 are vertical, sectional views of the upper and lower ends of the tool, respectively, as shown in position for washing the well.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the upper end of the tool shown in initial pulling position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the complete tool shown in released position relative to the well casing.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '1 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure Bis a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2; and

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are vertical, sectional views of the upp-r, intermediate and lower ends of the tool shown in the position the parts will 'by an inside coupling 2.

The lower end of the housing is closed by an annular closure cap 3 which is screwed into the lower end of the housing and the upper end of .the housing is closed by a 'hoodlike coupling 4 whose lower end is screwed into the housing I and whose upper end is reduced and connected to the operating string 6 by a conventional collar I.

The upper end of the coupling 2 is reduced in diameter and outwardly threaded and within the housing i and spaced therefrom with its lower end screwed onto the reduced upper end of the coupling 2 there is a tubular jacket 8.

Screwed into the upper end of this jacket there is a plug 9 having a central passageway l0 whose upper end is normally closed by the upwardly opening ball valve ll.

There is a tubular plunger rod l2 whose upper end works axially through the closure cap 3 and the coupling 2 and extends into the jacket 8. The cap 3 and coupling 2 carry suitable stufllng boxes, as l3, I I, which surround the'plunger rod and form seals therewith.

Within the jacket 8 there are the longitudinal keys, as l5, and the upper end of the plunger rod I2 carri;s a head l6 having external longitudinal keyways to receive said keys.- The housing thus has a limited longitudinal movement relative to the plunger rod but is not rotatable relative thereto so that when the operating string 6 is rotated the tool will rotate therewith.

The plunger rod extends on downwardly and anysuitable type of grappling tool 11 may be connected to its lower end.

Beneath the housing I about the plunger rod I 2 ther is a cylindir 18. In the present illustration this cylinder is 'formed of sections which are connected by the upper and lower inside couplings l9 and 20. Screwed into the upper end of this cylinder there is an annular closure termediate and lower plungers 33, 3i and 32. In the present illustration only three plunger chambers and three plungers are shown although a greater or lesser number may be employed.

Within and extending approximately from end to end 01 the plunger rod there are two independent tubes 33 and 34 which are welded in place and which form a unit with the plunger rod.

The upper and lower ends of these tubes are closed as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10.

The expander 22 is provided with the external grooves, or tracks, 38 which converge downwardly and which have the central dovetailed ribs 38. The upper ends of these grooves are open but their lower ends are closed by the stops 31'. Slidably mounted in said grooves and having dovetailed connections with the ribs 36 thereof there are the wedge shaped grapples 38 whose inner sides are tapered to conform to the downward convergence of the grooves and whose outer sides are toothed to engage the well casing 39.

In assembling the grapples 38 with the expander 22 said grapples are fitted into the upper ends of the grooves over the corresponding ribs 36 before the expander is screwed into the lower end of the cylinder I8. The grapples are limited in their downward movement by the stops 31.

Around the plunger rod i2, beneath the grapples, there is a cylinder 48 whose upper end is closed by the annular closure cap 4! and whose lower end is closed by the annular closure cap 42 which are screwed into the respective ends of the cylinder 48.

Within these respective caps are the seals 43 and 44 which form fluid tight joints with the plunger rod l2. The respective grapples 38 are loosely connected to the upper end cap 4i by means of the links 46.

Secured on the plunger rod l2 within the cylinder 48 there is a plunger 46 having the vertical, fluid passageways 41 therethrough and the cylinder 40 is provided with the upper and lower ports 48 and 49, the former being located immediately beneath the upper closure cap 4| and the latter being located immediately above the lower closure cap 42.

The tool may be lowered into the well bore by means of the operating string 5 until the grappling tool I! comes into contact with the stuck pipe, or other stuck object 50 while being so lowered the head It will hang on the coupling 2 and the cylinders i8 and 48 will be in their lower position. The grappling tool may then be engaged with the stuck object 50. In the present illustration this grappling tool is shown as a tapering tap which may be screwed into the stuck object by rotating the tool although any other type of grappling tool may be employed.

It may then be desired to force a washing fluid downwardly through the tool and on down through the stuck pipe 50 and this washing fluid will be returned up around the stuck pipe and will assist in washing the same loose and releasing the same. In such case the operating string 8 may be lowered to carry the parts into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The plunger rod i2 is provided with a port 5!, as best shown in Figures 1, 4 and 6, and the coupling 2 is provided with the vertical channels, as 52, as shown in Figure 1. With the parts shown in the position indicated in Figures 1 and 2, washing fluid may be forced downwardly through the operating stem 3 and on down through the housing i and through the channels 52 and port II into the tubular plunger rod i2 and on down through the axial channel 53 of the grappling tool into the pipe 50 for the purposes stated.

The tool may now be lowered to the position shown in Figure 3. The plunger rod l2 has an upper inlet and exhaust port 34 entering the tube 34 and the lower inlet and exhaust port 58 entering said tube 34 and when the tool is moved to the position, shown in Figure 3, pressure fluid from the operating string 8 may pass through the channels 52 and enter the port 54 and pass thence downwardly and out or the port 55 into the cylinder chamber 21 and this pressure fluid will operate to elevate the cylinder l8 carrying the expander 22 upwardly and the stops 3! will engage the lower ends of the grapples 38 and elevate said grapples and the cylinder 40 with them. As the cylinder 4!] moves upwardly relative to the plunger rod I2 and relative to the plunger 46 the liquid beneath said plunger 46 may escape through the lower port 49. The piston rod I2 is also provided with the inlet and outlet ports 56, 51, 58 and 59, from above downwardly, all of which communicate with the tube 33, the port 58 being located within the jacket 8 and the ports 51, 58 and 59 being located at the lower ends of the respective cylinder chambers 21, 28 and 28 so that as the cylinder i8 is elevated any liquid there may be in these respective cylinder chambers beneath the corresponding plungers 30, 3| and 32 may be exhausted through the ports 51, 58 and 53 into the tube 33 and thence through the port 53 into the jacket 8 and thence downwardl through the plunger rod l2.

The operating string may now be elevated to the position indicated in Figure 9. This will 10- cate the port 56 beneath the coupling 2 and above the closure cap 3 and the operating fluid may pass downwardly through the tube 33 and out the ports 51, 58 and 59 operating first to move the cylinder I8 downwardly carrying the expander 22 downwardly with it but the liquid in the cylinder 40 above the plunger 45, leaking slowly through the outlet port 48 will temporarily hold the cylinder 40 and the grapples 38 elevated so that the downward movement of the expander 22 will force said grapples outwardly into engagement with the casing 39, and the cylinder II will be thereb held against further downward movement relative to the casing and upon further application of pressure to the operating fluid the plungers 30, 3i and 32 will be forced upwardly placing the plunger rod i2 under tension moving said plungers upwardly to the limit of their upward movement, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, and exerting a corresponding pull on the stuck object 50. As the plungers move upwardly the liquid in the cylinder chamber 21 will be exhausted through the port 55, the tube 34 and the port 54, which at this time is located beneath the closure cap 3 and said exhausted fluid will pass on out into the well casing 39, as shown in Figure 9.

A single pull may not completely release the stuck object and it may be desirable to take another pull. In such case the operating string may be lowered until the port 54 is again located between the coupling 2 and the closure cap 3 and operating fluid again forced into the chamber 21 to move the cylinder i8 upwardly. Upon such upward movement the liquid beneath the pistons 30, 3i and 32 will be forced in through the ports 51, 58 and 59 and up through the tube 33 into the jacket 8. As the cylinder moves upwardly the expander 22 will move upwardly with the cylinder but the grapples 38 will be temporarily held substantially stationary bythe liquid in the cylinder 40 and said grapples 38 will be thereby moved inwardly out of engagement with the easing and they will engage the stops l1 and thereafter the grapples will be moved on up relative to the casing 39, together with the expander. -'I( the stuck pipe, or other stuck object, ill has been fully released it may then be pulled on out of the well with the tool but it it has not been fully released and it is desired to take another pull the operating string 6 may be moved to locate the opening 56 between the coupling 2 and the lower end cap 3 and pressure applied through the tube .33 into the cylinder chambers beneath the pistons 30, 3|, 32 and this will operate, as before, to

move the expander 22 downwardly to again engage the grapples 38 with the well casing and upon a continuation of application or pressure in said chambers the plunger rod I! will be again placed under tension and another pull exerted on the stuck object 50.

Liquid in the cylinder 40 may pass from one side to the other of the plunger 46 through the passageways 4] so that the cylinder 40 with its ports 48 and 49 and, the plunger 46 with its passageways 41 constitute, in eflect, a dashpot which temporarily supports the grapples 38 upon downward movement of the expander 22 so that said grapples will be expanded, and which temporarily holds said grapples stationary upon upward movement of the expander to cause the grapples to move inwardly and release the casing and the liquid in the cylinder 40 also acts as a cushion to cushion the shocks incident to the operation or the tool.

While lowering the tool in the well through the well liquid at times the hydrostatic pressure on opposite sides of the respective plungers 30, 3| and 32 may become unequal so as to tend to distort the cuprings of said plungers. In order to prevent this each plunger is provided with a radial duct 60 whose inner end is in communication with the interior of the plunger rod i2 and whose outer end terminates at the periphery of the plunger. This duct is provided to permit equali- -zation of pressures on opposite sides of the respective plungers.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, to engage the well casing, said tool having a channel through which fluid may be introduced, under pressure, into one cylinder to initially move said cylinder to cause such engagement of the grappling means with the well casing and to thereafter finally move the tension member and stuck object relative to the well casing.

3. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a plunger rod, means thereon for engaging an object stuck in the well, an upper and a lower cylinder through which the rod works, a plunger fixed on the rod in each cylinder, expanslble casing grappling means supported on one cylinder, an expander carried by the other cylinder arranged to expand the casing grappling means into engagement with the casing, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, said tool having a channel through which fluid under pressure may be introduced into one of said cylinders to initially move said cylinder to cause such engagement of the grappling means with the well casing and to thereafter finally move the plunger rod and stuck object longitudinally relative to the end casing.

4. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a plunger rod, means thereon for engaging an object stuck in the well, an upper and a lower cylinder through which the rod works, a plunger fixed on the rod in each cylinder. expansible casing grappling means supported on one cylinder, an expander carried by the other cylinder arranged to expand the casing grappling means into engagement with the casing, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, said tool having a channel through which fluid under pressure may be introduced into one of said cylinders to initially move said cylinder to cause such engagement of the grappling means with the wall casing and to thereafter finally move the plunger rod and stuck object longitudinally relative to the well casing, the other cylinder and plunger therein forming a dashpot to retard the movement of the cylinders in either direction relative to said rod.

5. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member, a grap le on the tension member adapted to engage with the object, in the well, to be pulled, an upper and a lower cylinder through which the tension member works, one oi said cylinders containing a pinrality of pressure chambers, a plunge on the tension member in each of said chambers, a

, plunger on the tension member in the other cylbe applied into one cylinder to initially move said cylinder to actuate the grappling means into ongagement with the well casing and to finally move the plunger rod and stuck object relative to said-casing.

2. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member, a grapple on the tension member adapted to engage with the-object to be pulled, an upper and a lower cylinder through which the tension member works, a Plunger fixed on the tension member in each cylinder, casing grappling means carried by the respective cylinders and arranged to cooperate.

inder, means carried by the respective cylinders and arranged to co-operate, upon relative movement of thecylinders in one direction. to engage the well casingto support the tool against downward movement, said tool having a channel through which fluid may be introduced, under pressure, into said chambers to initially move the corresponding cylinder to cause such engagement with the well casing and to thereafter finally move the tension member and stuck object upwardly relative to the well casing.

'6. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member, a grapple on the tension member adapted to engage with the object, in the well, to be pulled, an upper and a lower cylinder through which the tension member works, one of said cylinders containing a plurality of pressure chambers, a plunger'on the tension member in each of said chambers, a plunger on the tension member in the other cylinder, means carried by the respective cylinders and arranged to co-operate, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, to engage the well casing to support the tool against downward movement, said tool having a channel through which fluid may be introduced. under pressure, into said chambers to initially move the corresponding cylinder to cause such engagement with the well casing and to thereafter finally move the tension member and stuck object upwardly relative to the well casing, the other cylinder and plunger therein forming a dashpot to retard the movement of said cylinders in either direction relative to said tension memher.

7. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member, a grapple on the tension member adapted to engage with the object, in the well, to be pulled, cylinders associated with the tension member, a plunger fixed on the tension member in each cylinder, casing grappling means on the tool arranged to be actuated, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, to engage the well casing to support the tool against downward movement, a tubular operating string, means connecting the string with the tension member, said tool having a channel leading from the string into one cylinder through which pressure fluid may be introduced into said cylinder to move said cylinder in said direction to actuate said grappling means into engagement with the well casing, to support the tool from the casing, and to thereafter finally move the tension member and stuck object upwardly relative to the well casing.

8. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member, a grapple on the tension member adapted to engage with the object, in the well, to be pulled, cylinders associated with the tension member, a plunger fixed on the tension member in each cylinder, casing grappling means on the tool arranged to be actuated, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, to engage the well casing to support the tool against downward movement, a tubular operating string, means connecting the string with the tension member, said tool having a channel leading from the string into one cylinder through which pressure fluid may be introduced into said cylinder to move said cylinder in said direction to actuate said grappling means into engagement the plunger therein. to move said cylinder to release said casing grappling means, and said tool having another channel through which fluid may be introduced into said last mentioned cylinder on the other sine of the plunger therein, under pressure, to move said last mentioned cylinder to initially cause engagement of said grappling means with the casing and to thereafter finally with the well casing, to support the tool from the casing, and to thereafter finally move the tension member and stuck object upwardly relative to the well casing, said connecting means being movable to control the passage of fluid through said channel.

9. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member, a grapple on the tension member adapted to engage with the object, in the well, to be pulled, a tubular operating string, means loosely connecting said string to the tension member, a pair of cylinders associated with the tension member, a plunger fixed on the tension member in each cylinder, casing grappling means carried by one cylinder and means carried by the other cylinder and arranged to actuate the grappling means into engagement with the well casing, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, to support the tool in the casing, said tool having a channel through which fluid may be introduced, under pressure, from the string into one cylinder on one side of move the tension member and stuck object upwardly relative to the well casing, said connecting means being movable to positions to alternatively control the application of fluid, under pressure, through and the relief of said pressure through, said channels.

10. A pipe puller adapted to be lowered into a well and comprising, a tubular operating string, a tension member connected to the string, a cylinder on the tension member whose lower end is closed, a piston fixed on the tension-member and located in the cylinder, a grapple on.the tension member beneath the cylinder, hydraulically operable means for anchoring the cylinder to the wall of the well bore, said tension member having an outlet port into the cylinder whereby fluid, under pressure, may be forced downwardly through the string and tension member into the cylinder to move the piston, tension member and grapple upwardly and also having an outlet port into the -cylinder whereby fluid, under pressure, may be forced downwardly through the string and tension member into the cylinder to move said anchoring means upwardly.

11. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a plunger rod adapted to be connected to a grapple, an upper and a lower cylinder through which the rod works, a plunger on the rod in each cylinder, grappling means carried by the cylinders and arranged to be actuated into engagement with the well casing, upon movement of the cylinders in one direction relative to the plunger rod, said tool having a channel through which fluid under pressure may be applied into one cylinder to initially move said cylinder to actuate the grappling means into engagement with the well casing and to finally move the plunger rod and object engaged by the grapple relative to said casing.

12. A tool for pulling a stuck object from a well comprising, a tension member adapted to operate a grapple connected thereto, an upper and lower cylinder through which the tension member works, a plunger fixed on the tension member in each cylinder, grapple means carried by the respective cylinders and arranged to cooperate, upon relative movement of the cylinders in one direction, to engage the well casing, said tool having a channel through which fluid may be introduced under pressure into one cylinder to initially move said cylinder to engage the grapple means with the well casing and to thereafter finally move the tension member and a stuck object with which the grapple is engaged, relative to the well casing.

RICHARD R. LAWRENCE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lawrence May 29, 1945 Number the 

